Are Independent Bookstores Dead--Not Yet!

An interesting article appeared in yesterday's Milwaukee Journal, explaining how a few independent bookstores are surviving in today's digital age. The local stores profiled say their principal concern is no longer the huge brick and mortar stores--of which Barnes and Noble is the only one left standing--but the Internet. It's so much easier to go online to buy something and have it instantly downloaded. Case in point, yesterday I went to Barnes and Noble to check out the new releases and the bargain books. I always enjoy Holocaust literature and found a new hardcover called "The Warsaw Anagrams." It was priced at $25.95. I made a note to check out the e-book price when I got home. I went on www.kobobooks.com (I have a Libre e-reader, which is compatible with Kobo rather than Kindle) and found the e-book priced at only $2.79. I bought it and downloaded it in a few seconds. Amazing savings!

Independent booksellers in the Milwaukee and surrounding area (most are in the suburbs) say they survive by holding book club meetings, having book signings with best selling authors and offering discounted books to students. They depend on local community support and loyalty. They have also added cards and other non-book items to their inventory. Stuffed animals sit next to the children's books. Some even sell e-books on their websites.

Another interesting note. The only brick and mortar store that has expanded in recent years is Half Price Books, one of my favorites, since you can also find so many out of print books there as well as on Amazon. My problem with Barnes and Noble (besides the high prices) is the fact that they only stock current stuff and few items from indie publishers.

Even those bookstores that are thriving say they could make more money doing something else and cite concerns about the future.

For the complete article visit:
http://www.jsonline.com/business/127152613.html

Next Week: Amie Louellen

Are Bookstores on the Verge of Extinction?

In talking with local independent book store owners while doing book signings, many expressed fear for their future, even wondering whether one day bookstores themselves will be extinct, considering the meteoric rise of e-books. Several independent bookstores have already gone out of business in my area, due to the bad economy. What will the future hold?
Eight track tapes became cassette tapes, cassettes became CD’s and iPods took over after that, gaining a substantial market foothold with electronic and affordable downloads. More recently, we’ve witnessed the downturn in popularity of large video and DVD rental businesses. I have a DVR on my TV so I buy fewer DVD’s than I have in the past.
What does this all mean with the explosion of e-readers? Every month, the readers become more affordable and user-friendly, with non-glare screens and now color. Already big bookstores are offering deeper discounts on print books and reminding people when they walk in the door how much cheaper e-books are compared to print. And it’s true. Having been in public relations and communications all my life, I know how expensive it is to print something, whether it’s a simple brochure or a more complicated newsletter or membership directory. When you consider the rising costs of ink and paper and the staff needed to produce and create books with hundreds of pages, you can understand the benefits of electronic delivery.
And what about publishers? Many only accept manuscript submissions via e-mail. Print versions of many magazines and newspapers are only half their size. I remember when they were thick, stuffed with ads and special full-color sections. Postage has also gone up because fewer people use the mail due to online banking and shopping and the availability of newspapers and magazines on the Internet.
So what will happen to bookstores? Will they evolve into virtual bookstores, offering snippets of e-books for sale on sample e-readers? Or will they become used or antique bookstores, filled with these quaint memories of the past?

Let’s look at the advantages of books over e-book readers:

1. You can hold them in your hand.
2. They are easy to read.
3. They have flashy, eye-catching covers.

E-Readers:

1. You can hold them in your hand.
2. They are easy to read. (using non-glare screens)
3. They have flashy, eye-catching covers. (e-readers are now offered in color)
4. You can store THOUSANDS of books in a device the size of one paperback book.

Today, there are boundless opportunities for writers with the explosion of e-publishing. And with many wonderful websites on the Internet to help writers get the word out, we are truly fortunate.

So what do you think?